Casner Family Blog

A photo for the day. (No, we didn’t get a dog, it is one of our neighbors.)

Some mini sweaters finally ready to be given away.

Every Christmas morning begins with homemade cinnamon rolls and a candle to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. This year was no different.

We started the tradition when Hannah was just 2. (And I used pre-made cinnamon rolls.) Well, Hannah didn’t forget the next year, and the year after, Luke nor Hannah forgot… Since the family has grown, and I enjoy to bake, now I bake them fresh each Christmas morning.

We hope you have a wonderful Christmas.

Thanks Blair for taking the time to take some photos of us.

It started snowing late Friday night and it didn’t stop until Saturday evening.

then I past the sea of swirly, twirly gumdrops, and then, I walked through the Lincoln tunnel.” -Buddy from the movie, “Elf”.

Shelly gave us a Wilson’s Gingerbread House kit to decorate. The kids had a great time. Luke kept saying lines from Elf as we decorated.

For a good friend’s birthday. I used Bazic Wool by Classic Elite (green) and lion brand (pink yarn). The pattern is from “Last-Minute Knitted Gifts”by Joelle Hoverson.

It was my first time to use double-pointed needles to make more then I-cord. This book has been an inspiration to attempt more then just straight needles.

This photo is deceiving. It looks like it may have snowed, but not in this part of the Midwest. Just some sleet to make you think it snowed. There may not have been any snow, but there was a still a lot of time spent inside. Time for working on Christmas presents.
skull cap

rice heat therapy bags (free pattern from Sew, Mama, Sew!)

Playing with some tags from ideas in this book.

Some yummy gingerbread girls and boys, and some gingerbread with some white chocolate…

I seldom take enough time to record some of the random things or quotes from the children.

Lately, Liz climbs up the storage containers to reach her light switch. After she counts 1,2,3 and shuts off the light, then she announces who she is as she flies off. One of here favorites is Supergirl. Sometimes she is “Rescue-girl”, tonight she was, “Lizzie-Lizard-Rescue-girl”. She almost didn’t get it all out before she hit the ground. (Matheau calls her lizard.)

Allison is my left-brained child. Since before she was 2 she can be found somewhere putting a puzzle together. I have purchased a lot of puzzles over the years and they are used far more then the board games we have. Anyway… last week I could see she was getting frustrated with her dresser drawer she uses. As I am leaving the room she starts to pull out some of her clothes. She asked to have breakfast late so she could finish her work, and not long later she comes and has a surprise for me. She had taken everything out, folded it all, and returned it neatly to her drawer. By the end of the day, all of their shoes were also organized in the closet. Just think, in a few more years, she may be straightening up the entire house-for fun! {grin}

Allison styling in the “blue sparkle” hat I crocheted.

Wednesday there was a chance for snow. So we headed to the library. I hadn’t picked up many Christmas and winter stories so I made a search while we were there. We found so gems, but I think our favorite is “Morris’s Disappearing Bag” by Rosemary Wells.

A few of the others we are enjoying are:

“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost.

“The Snow Child” a Russian Folktale by Freya Littledale and Illustrated by Barbara Lavallee.
“Just a Snowman” by Mercer Mayer.

“Plum Pudding for Christmas” written and illustrated by Virginia Kahl.

I will keep adding as we go.

A couple of weeks ago, Lizzie was given some boots. Yesterday, she found her cowgirl hat to go with her cowgirl boots and headed out to the pasture. Now all she needs are those chickens and cows…. {grin}

Besides the cold arriving, so have the preparations for Christmas, the celebration of Christ’s birth. This weekend our home group purchased presents, made food, and/or chipped in money for a gift card for a family. Our 4 kids each were willing to give up a gift of their own so we could give them gifts. I was a proud Momma when they all were not only willing, but excited about it.

Besides Christmas presents, I have been also working on a baby gift (a very late baby gift). I learned a ton knitting this baby bonnet up. The pattern is in Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson.